FTA talks with more nations next year

The government will hold discussions on Free Trade Agreements with Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and number of other countries next year. The government is also discussing an Economic Cooperation Programme with Japan, a statement by the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs said on Thursday.

“The government’s policy is to make Sri Lanka the Hub of the Indian Ocean and seek to exploit the synergies of the Indian Act East Policy for the region and the Chinese One-Belt One-Road initiative. The aim of these efforts is to expand the market for the Sri Lankan products to create one million jobs for the Sri Lankans, expand the middle class and revive the rural economy,” the statement noted.